LUCKNOW: The government has taken possession of the 2.7 acre land outside the disputed shrine structure of Ayodhya for the purpose as notified in its no litigations for development of tourism and providing amenities to pilgrims.

The department of tourism which acquired the land has deposited a sum of R.s 6.65 lakh with the district magistrate for payment of compensation and opened a camp Office for the time being.

Alok Sinha, secretary tourism, who issued two notifications under Sections 4 and 6 on the Land Acquisition Act, has been fighting shy of meeting the press and throwing any lighten schemes for the development of tourism for which the land was acquired, For most of the time during the past one week he remained elusive.

The possession which should have been taken on October 26 last itself after the expiry of the 15day notice issued by the district magistrate as was committed by Alok Sinha himself, was deliber ately delayed to allow the Vishwa Hindu Parishad and Bajrang Dal to demonstrate their frenzy and saffron power for the temple construction by organizing shaurya divas” (velour day) on October 30nd then unfurling the saffron fags atop the domes of the shrine and damaging its outer wall the next day.

The possession which was by and large a paper work, was completed soon after the “shrandijali diwas” (homage day) organized in memory of those Killed in police firing last year on October 30 and November 2.

In the notifications for the acquisition of the land Sections 5 (A) giving time to file objections and hold injury was dispensed with because of the pressing urgency as the same would have “caused delya and the purpose of acquisition of the land would have been frustrated”.

The urgency for taking lands possession much before October 30washighlightedby Alok Sinha, a senior I.A.S officer, in 8 short counter affidavit the filed on behalf of the state government before the full bench of the high court.

In the counter affidavit, Sinha, on behalf of the government stated it become necessary for the state government to dispense with the injury under Section 5 (A) as that would have caused dela in the face of the pressing urgency, The urgency was “because of the first anniversary of kar seva for building the temple at Ayodhya falls on October 30 and on account of the first death anniversary of the Kar sevaks on November 2 and also because of the ““dhauda kosi parikrama” and “panch  kosi  parikrama” on November 16 and 18respectively. These parikarama could not be performed last year and therefore, keeping in these events, the reisalpossi of a very large inflow of pilgrims to pay their homage and respect to the kar sevaks and perform the parikrama”.

The tourism secretary in justification of dispensing with the Section 5(A) stated that necessary arrangements would have to be made before the “said dates” for providing amenities and all

facilities to the pilgrims who would visit Ayodhya on the said dates”. Without unfolding the blue print for development of tourism and providing amenities, as according to informed sources there is none, the tourism secretary in his affidavit had stated that as the first step for giving effect to the purpose, for which the land had been acquired, it would be necessary 10 level the land and clear the site by the removal of the structures existing thereon so that sufficient area of land is made available for the movement of huge crowds of pilgrim.

Article extracted from this publication >> November 8, 1991